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Welsh Delight

Wales defeated England at Bangor this evening to start the Victory Shield Tournament with a bang.

Wales defeated England at Bangor this evening to start the Victory Shield Tournament with a bang.

On a blustery, cool, evening at the BookPeople Stadium, Bangor, Wales took on England in the opening BSkyB Victory Shield game of 2014.

Wales came in to the match on the back of two historic wins over France - ideal preparation for the annual event with the other home countries. Head Coach Osian Roberts was able to pick a full-strength team for the game and hopes were high of a victory against the ‘old enemy’. Several of the Wales team had already played for the Under 17 squad in recent UEFA qualifiers, showing how the ‘player pathway’ was working for the benefit of Welsh Football.

In the first few minutes, Wales won a free kick after a foul on Tyler Roberts. Max Slocombe delivered a good cross which was gathered by England keeper Asnby-Hammond.

The windy conditions were not making life easy for both teams with ball control proving to be a difficult task. Early exchanges were fairly even. For Wales, Ben Woodburn showed some good skills to create a half chance on 9 minutes which was cleared by the English defence. Tyler Roberts was always looking for a chance to find a gap in the England back-line.

For England, Keanan Bennetts went down in the Wales area on 12 minutes but referee Kevin Parry waved play on. For Wales, Roberts had a snap-shot on 14 minutes that was well held by the keeper from some fifteen yards-out. Moments later he was almost able to put Matty Smith through, but the keeper was alert to the danger.

On 15 minutes, Liam Cullen had a shot from wide on the left which the keeper dealt with cleanly, but it was clear that Wales were taking the game to England. The visitors were coping with the attacks and looking to play some good passing football too, working the ball out from defence and feeding the flanks when they could.

Tyler Roberts won another free kick on 20 minutes as he was pulled down as he made a run through the middle of the England defence. He took the kick himself, but the wall did its job.

England replied with an attack and won a free kick after a foul on Charlie Gilmour, but the free kick went high and wide after 22 minutes.

The first corner to Wales came on 25 minutes. A good kick saw Wales threaten but Roberts’ shot was well held by the keeper.

England began to look a little more settled as the half wore on, but clear chances were hard to come by. Wales certainly seemed to have the upper hand in the first half hour.

The best chance of the half fell to Matty Smith after a great through ball from Tyler Roberts, but his shot went just wide of the right-hand post on 32 minutes.

For England, Keanan Bennetts was the pick of the forwards. He was quick and tricky and looked to cut inside when he could.

Ben Woodburn had the ball in the net with a well-taken strike after 35 minutes for Wales but was adjudged to be offside.

England should have taken the lead minutes later when the Welsh keeper parried the ball straight-out to Bennetts, but he shot wide from only five yards out. Moments later another shot was cleared away by the Welsh defence as England had their best attacking spell of the match.

Wales’ Liam Angel had treatment after a clash in the penalty area and was down for several minutes before resuming.

Half-time: Wales 0 England 0

At the start of the second half, Englnad made one substitution, with Lewis Thompson replacing Japhet Tanganga.

Wales were back on the attack straight away and won a free kick which went for a corner. The resultant kick saw a scramble in the goalmouth and a well-deserved goal for Wales from Liam Angel at close-range on 43 minutes.

The action was now taking place in driving rain which had started during the half time break. England won a corner on 45 minutes which resulted in a second corner after being cleared. That also came to nothing.

Tyler Roberts received some attention after a clash but was able to resume soon after. England again started to come-back into the game, but Wales always looked ready to counter-attack. England won a free kick on 56 minutes for a push on Taylor-Crossdale, but the kick was cleared for a throw-in.

The rain continued to come down heavily, making the pitch greasy and harder for the players to turn. Wales made their first substitution on 59 minutes when Sam Phillips replaced Keiron Proctor.

The game was becoming a midfield battle as both sides looked for supremacy. Wales made a second change with Ethan Ampadu replacing Matty Smith on 63 minutes.

Once again, Wales were showing the ability to pass the ball to feet as they looked to find a way forward. The players looking comfortable in possession, but England were now pressing hard looking for the equiliser.

The rain seemed to get heavier still as the game entered the last quarter, and there was no doubt that it was a difficult evening to play good football. The crowd, around 1400, also had to endure the terrible weather conditions.

England made a double substitution on 70 minutes, Diallo and Heaney replacing Bennetts and Gilmour as they continued the search for goal. Wales were holding firm and made a third change with Keiran Evans replacing the hard-working Tyler Roberts on 73 minutes.

It was now about keeping England out for the final minutes of the game, though Liam Cullen did have an attempt that went just wide with five minutes to go. England were leaving gaps at the back as they threw everything at Wales. Sam Phillips getting a shot-in with minutes left on the clock and winning a corner.

England made a final change bringing-on Simmonds for Taylor-Crossdale as a last throw of the dice as the game went in to added time. Could Wales record their first win since 2010 against England?

The Wales defence held firm as the rain finally stopped. The team had been expertly prepared by Osian Roberts and his staff and the result was hard-fought and thoroughly deserved as the final whistle went 1-0 to Wales!